Ebenezer Assifuah scored his second goal in the closing minutes of extra time as Ghana beat Chile 4-3 to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup on Sunday.
Assifuah’s header completed Ghana’s comeback after Angelo Henriquez put Chile 3-2 up in the eighth minute of extra time. Seidu Salifu equalized in the 113th minute after being set up by Clifford Aboagye. Both teams were locked at 2-2 in normal time.
“This was really a cliffhanger match,” Ghana coach Sellas Tetteh said. “That is what this tournament is about, to show good football and to entertain people.”
Photo: AFP
The only African nation to win the event, in 2009, Ghana will next play France while Iraq take on Uruguay in the other semi-final.
Earlier on Sunday, Iraq conceded the lead three times to draw 3-3 with South Korea before winning a penalty shootout.
Tetteh praised his team for coming from behind for a second straight match. In the previous knockout round, Ghana beat Portugal 3-2 with two late goals.
“We didn’t panic, we still played our type of football,” Tetteh said. “I have to give credit to the boys ... this was a complete performance from a determined team.”
Earlier in the tournament, Ghana narrowly escaped elimination after losing group matches against Spain and France before advancing on goal difference following a 4-1 win against the US.
“It’s a wonderful feeling for us to progress to the semi-final,” Tetteh said. “We started from a very low point. The progression of this team is wonderful.”
Ghana took the lead in the 11th minute when Frank Acheampong set up Moses Odjer, who controlled the ball on his chest before hammering it past goalkeeper Dario Melo.
Nicolas Castillo scored his fourth goal of the tournament with a fierce strike to level in the 23rd minute, and Henriquez gave Chile the lead four minutes later with a low shot from just outside the area.
Ghana pressed for an equalizer in the second half and got their reward in the 72nd minute when Ebenezer Assifuah hit the target for his first goal.
Iraq striker Farhan Shakor, who scored twice in normal time, converted the decisive penalty after Lee Chang-geun’s spot kick was saved by goalkeeper Mohammed Hameed.
Iraq beat Paraguay 1-0 through Shakor’s goal in extra time in the previous round. Iraq’s previous best achievement was reaching the quarter-finals in 1989.
After the match ended 2-2, Farhan looked to have sent Iraq through with his goal in the 118th minute, only for substitute Jung Hyun-cheol to equalize for South Korea with the last kick of the match.
Two minutes after coming on, Jung’s 25m strike was deflected by the defense to give Hameed no chance.
South Korea, who missed injured top-scorer Ryu Seung-woo, beat Colombia in a shootout in the previous round. They also defeated Iraq on penalties during the final of this year’s Asian Under-19 Championship.
Playing without suspended key striker Mohanad Abdulraheem, Iraq took the lead in the 21st minute from a penalty by Ali Faez after Kim Hy-un fouled Ali Adnan in the area. Five minutes later, Kwon Chang-hoon headed the ball into the net from a throw-in by South Korea left back Sim Sang-min.
Three minutes before halftime, Shakor made it 2-1 with his first off a rebound after South Korea goalkeeper Lee Chang-geun saved a shot by Ali Qasim. In the 50th minute, South Korea leveled again as loose defending by Iraq allowed Lee Gwang-hun, who replaced Kim Hy-un at halftime, to score a header.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely